Sharshti Kumar vs Union of India - 2026 Supreme(Online)(CAT) 1500

Headnote Court Copy Facts Arguments Court observation Judicial Analysis Case Map Category Hierarchy Table of Content

2026 Supreme(Online)(CAT) 1500

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
Rajinder Singh Dogra, Judicial Member, Ram Mohan Johri, Accountant Member
Sharshti Kumar – Appellant
Versus
Union of India – Respondent
OA 814/2020|OA 812/2020

Important Points

Financial up-gradation benefits under career progression schemes are determined by the promotional hierarchy. The administrative merger of pay scales cannot be used to nullify accrued entitlements or restrict progression, and judicial consistency necessitates that identical service law disputes be decided in alignment with settled coordinate bench precedents.

Subject

Service Law - ACP/MACP Benefits

Act Referred

Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985: S.19
Constitution of India: Art.14, Art.16

Headnote

(A) Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 - Section 19 - Service Law - Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme (1999) - Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme (2009) - Financial up-gradations - Employees claimed entitlement to 2nd ACP in higher grade pay on completion of 24 years of service and 3rd MACP on completion of 30 years - Respondents denied benefits citing merger of pay scales and internal departmental instructions - Held, merger of pay scales cannot nullify accrued benefits under ACP which remained operative until 31.08.2008 - Financial up-gradations must be granted in promotional hierarchy regardless of pay scale mergers - Denial of benefits despite consistent judicial precedents on identical issues constitutes arbitrary and discriminatory practice. (Paras 2, 7, 8, 12, 16)

(B) Judicial Discipline - Consistency and Precedent - When a coordinate bench of the Tribunal has settled a legal issue based on identical facts, it is imperative to follow the same view to maintain consistency and avoid discriminatory treatment of similarly situated employees, unless the decision is challenged or stayed by a higher forum. (Paras 12, 14, 15)

Facts of the case:
Applicants, initial appointees in unskilled or semi-skilled roles, sought financial up-gradations under ACP and MACP schemes. Following the implementation of pay commission recommendations, their pay scales were merged, leading respondents to deny the 2nd ACP in a higher grade pay and the subsequent 3rd MACP. Despite multiple administrative clarifications supporting the employees' entitlement, applications were rejected via speaking orders based on internal correspondence.

Findings of Court:
The court concluded that the ACP scheme remained operational until 31.08.2008 and that benefits accrued during this period must be provided. It found that the merger of posts does not preclude financial up-gradations in the promotional hierarchy and that consistent judicial pronouncements support the applicants' claims. Consequently, the impugned rejection orders were declared unsustainable.

Issues: Whether employees who completed the requisite length of service prior to the operational cut-off of the ACP scheme are entitled to 2nd ACP in the higher grade pay, and whether subsequent 3rd MACP is admissible given the merger of pay scales.

Ratio Decidendi: Financial up-gradation schemes are intended to provide relief against stagnation, and administrative merger of pay scales cannot be utilized to deny the rightful promotional hierarchy benefits when service conditions are met. Judicial consistency requires upholding settled legal interpretations over conflicting internal executive orders.

Result: Original Applications allowed; impugned speaking orders quashed; respondents directed to grant applicable financial up-gradations and arrears within three months.

Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: K.B. Sharma
For the Respondents: Prem Sadotra

Table of Content
1. applicants seek judicial redress against denial of acp/macp benefits. (Para 1 , 2)
2. respondents justify denial based on departmental policy and organizational distinction. (Para 3)
3. consolidation of oas concerning uniform claims for financial upgradation. (Para 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9)
4. binding judicial precedent of coordinate bench mandates parity in benefits. (Para 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15)
5. court orders granting specific financial upgradations with limitation on arrears. (Para 16 , 17 , 18)

OA 814/2020

1. Sharshti Kumar S/o Mohan Lal, MES No 505775, R/o village Manpa, District Udhampur-182101

2. Gian Chand S/o Nand Lal, MES No 504300, R/O Seen Brahamana Udhampur J&K 182121

3. Hem Raj S/o Nand Lal, MES No. 506390, R/o Seen Brahamana Udhampur 182121

4. Wazer Adaalat Khan S/o Din Mohd, MES No 505451, R/o Hartaryan P.O. Kambal Danga Udhampur 182121

5. Madan Lal S/o Pengi Ram, MES No. 504084 R/o Padanoo Near Chopra Shop. Udhampur 182121

6. Bal Krishan S/o Amar Nath, MES No 503843 R/o Chang PO Barolla Udhampur 182121

7. Baldav Raj S/o Shambu Nath, MES No 311290 R/o Chak Garhi Udhampur 182121

8. Pars Ram S/o Dedru Ram, MES No 312005 R/o Chang P.O. Deenu Udhampur-182121

9. Bansi Lal S/o Pars Ram, MES No 504895 R/o Payday Padar P.O. Kharodion Battal Udhampur 182126

10. Ram Chand S/o Gori Chand, MES No 503544 R/o Padala PO Chak Udhampur 182101

11. Bansi Lal S/o Mast Ram. MES No. 505706, PO Baryal R/o Kashi Rah Udhampur-182101

12. Peram S/o Sukh Ram, MES No 503522 R/o Kashi Rah PO Baryal Udhampur 182101

13. Mangat Ram S/o Chatru Ram, MES No 503148 R/o Jib P.O. Jib udhampur 182121

14. Mohan Lal S/o Pars Ram. MES No 504062 R/o Chadni Garhi P.O. Garhi-182121

15. Jagdish Kumar S/o Gon Chand 504921 R/o Malhar P.O. Malhar 182121

16. Devi Das S/o Pars Ram. MES No 505759 R/o Mongerali P.O. Garhi Udhampur-182121

17. Madan Lal S/o Mani Ram. MES No 503558 R/o Rathion P.O. Sattani Udhampur182101

18. Ashok Kumar S/o Perma. MES No. 505767 R/o Nambala P.O. Jib Udhampur 182121

19. Om Parkash S/o Abhay Ram, MES No 505730 R/o Rathion DPS PO Sattani Udhampur 182101

20. Hem Raj S/o Neseb Charid. MES No 505532 R/o Mongerali PO Jib Udhampur 182121

21. Bishan Dass S/o Perma. MES No 503543 R/o Salmerhi PO Salmerhı 182101

22. Suram Chand S/o Devi Ram, MES No 505705 R/o Roun PO Roun 182126

23. Sansar Chand S/o Nek ram, MES No 503300 R/o Balti PO Salmerahi Udhampur182101

24. Nank Singh S/o Naseb Singh. MES No 503521, R/o Mongarli Ashram PO Jib 182121

25. Bansi Lal S/o Lashi Ram, MES No 504075 R/o Garnai PO Garhi Udhampur 182121

26. Chunni Lal S/o Thakr Dass MES No 505534, R/o Salmerhi PO Salmerhi 182101

27. Fiqer Chand S/o Nant Ram. MES No. 505886 R/o Rathion PO Sattani Udhampur182101

28. Kartar Singh MES No 505890 S/o Beer Singh R/o Karoa PO Jaganoo udhampur 182124

29. Shiv Ram S/o Chandu, MES No 503737 R/o Bradian PO Khrodion Udhampur 182126

30. Mohan Lal S/o Maasa, MES No. 364784 R/o Kambal Danga PO Sanarı Udhampur-182126

31. Daya Ram S/o Brij Lal, MES No 365355 R/o Dhanori P.O. P.T.C. Udhampur 182101

32. Rattan chand S/o Peemu, MES No. 506717 R/o Dandyal PO Udhampur 182121

33. Jagpal S/o Isher Dass. MES No 505435 R/o Kothi PO. Garhi Udhampur 182121

34. Santosh Kumar S/o Shanku Ram, MES No. 505447 R/o Chopra Shop P.O Garhi Udhampur 182121

35. Sudesh Kumar S/o Tej Ram, MES No 505757 R/o Manpa PO Udhampur 182101

36. Figer Chand S/o Gain Chand, MES No 505764 R/o Malhar PO Garhi Udhampur 182121

37. Shiv Ram S/o Gangaram, MES No 503733 R/o Jindrah PO Jindrah Udhampur 182124

38. Shiv Ram S/o Dhuni Chand, MES No 505718 R/o Kashirah PO Kashirah Udhampur 182101

39. Nain Singh S/o Dhavma, MES No 505465 R/o Raghunathpura PO. Udhampur. Udhampur 182121

40. Om Parkash S/o Nak Ram, MES No 362523 R/o Darwey PO Krimchi Udhampur-182121

41. Girdhari Lal s/o Nek Ram. MES No. 503050 R/o Darwey PO Krimchi Udhampur-182121

42. Man Sukh s/o Ram Ditta, MES No. 364498 R/o Chakhar PO Gandala Udhampur-182121

43. Sansar Chand s/o Nand Lal. MES No 503739 R/o Nile N